Arizona Coalition for Victim Services (ACVS) Meeting Minutes March 21, N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ

Transcription

1 Arizona Coalition for Victim Services (ACVS) Meeting Minutes March 21, N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ I. Call to Order: Debbie Olsen, Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. II. Welcome and Introductions: Debbie Olsen welcomed everyone and reminded them to please sign the sign-in sheet and utilize the tent cards. Amy Bocks, AZ Attorney General Amy Palmisano, EMPACT Angela Rose, City of Scottsdale Beckie Miller, POMC Bob Steward, Prescott Valley Police Dept. Candice Hewitt, Phoenix FAC Carolee Holbrook, POMC Volunteer Charles Brooks, US Attorney s Office Christine Osborn, AZ Dept. of Corrections Connie Chapman, AVAA Dan Levey, AZ Crime Victims Law Inst. Debbie Olsen, Yavapai County Attorney Denise Lundin, AZ Supreme Court Dina Aguilera, Gilbert City Prosecutor Gina Winn, Glendale Police Dept. Holly Hulen, Family Violence Institute, NAU James Gierke, Homicide Survivors Julie Williams, Maricopa County Attorney Kate Lyon, AZ Dept. of Public Safety Kennesha Jackson, AZ Attorney General Marc Tetzlaff, Homeland Security Marie Soliz, Mesa City Prosecutor Mimi Kaplan, JFCS Shelter Randall Udelman, AZ Crime Victims Law Inst. Renee Glaze, ACESDV Renee Werner, MCSO Robert Celaya, Maricopa Adult Probation Tony Bidonde, Maricopa Adult Probation Stephanie Smith, Peoria Police Dept. Vanessa Helms, Pima County Attorney Xavier Ruiz, AZ Dept. of Public Safety III. Approval of November Minutes: Marc Tetzlaff made a Motion to approve the January 17, 2018 Meeting Minutes. Motion seconded by Beckie Miller. Motion passed unanimously. IV. Phoenix Dream Center: Constance Meredith, Chief Programs Officer for the Phoenix Dream Center provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding some of the programs offered at the Center. A copy of the presentation will be posted on the ACVS website. Some of the highlights include: The Phoenix Dream Center was founded in 2006 as a Christian based organization providing social services and community outreach programs to the homeless, at-risk youth and needy families free of charge, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 1

2 Tours of the Center are held on Tuesdays at Noon and the first Saturday of every month at 9:30am at 3210 NW Grand Avenue, Phoenix. The Phoenix Dream Center provides 120 outreaches per week 120, 14,000 meals per week, clothes 4,500 individuals per week, and reaches approximately 36,000 individuals per month. The Faith Based Life Recovery Program has 270 beds, the Human Trafficking Program has 96 beds, the Colorado City facility has 88 beds, and they have 21 beds/5 homes for Foster Care. The programs vary in terms of eligibility requirements, orientation and program length. Contact the Phoenix Dream Center for further information on each of the programs and services provided. V. ACVS By-Laws and Operational Guidelines: Debbie Olsen thanked the workgroup that spent a considerable amount of time reviewing and editing the ACVS By-Laws and Operational Guidelines: Vanessa Helms, Amy Bocks, Kennesha Jackson and Melissa Rhodes. Both documents were provided to the membership two weeks prior to the meeting and asked to review. Amy Bocks walked through both documents, advising the membership of additional edits proposed by the Executive Committee. Discussion held by the membership. Marc Tetzlaff made a Motion to approve the Operational Guidelines as amended during the meeting. Motion seconded by James Gierke. Motion passed unanimously. Beckie Miller made a Motion to approve the By-Laws as amended during the meeting. Marc Tetzlaff seconded the Motion. Motion passed unanimously. Both documents will be finalized and uploaded to the ACVS website. VI. Legislative Priorities a. Arizona Attorney General s Office: Kennesha Jackson provided a handout of the bills being tracked by the Attorney General s Office. She highlighted the following: HB2323 Expands the option for sentencing a defendant to community restitution in lieu of payment of a fine, fee, assessment or incarceration costs Allows a judge to mitigate a fine if a defendant demonstrates hardship on the defendant or the defendant s family. Outlines specific criteria for the court to consider in determining whether to mitigate a fine. Establishes an interest rate of 4% per year on criminal restitution orders enforced by the state. Clarifies difference between restitution and fines/fees for the purposes of mitigating fines/fees. Removes the Victims Rights Program and the Victims Compensation Fund as recipients of CJEF funding and creates a separate fine/fee for those two funds that cannot be mitigated. Outlines several offenses that are disqualified from being set aside. 2

3 b. Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence: Renee Glaze provided handouts of their Sexual Violence Legislative Agenda and their Domestic Violence Legislative Agenda. She highlighted the following: They are working to establish state funding for sexual violence services. Arizona needs to support survivors of sexual violence and funding for victimcentered services, including an expansion of current services and the introduction of a 24/7 sexual violence specific services available to those who experience trauma. HB2570 This bill did not make it to Committee and will be proposed again next year. It would have given oversight of domestic violence offender treatment programs to the Administrative Office of the Courts and make it clear that offenders who have previously completed a treatment program should be ordered to complete alternative treatment or have alternative sanctions considered. HB This bill makes various changes to protective orders and injunctions against harassment. VII. Updates from ACESDV: Renee Glaze provided the following update: Jason Vail Cruz is the Sexual Violence Policy Coordinator. jason@acesdv.org Whitney Walker is the Domestic Violence Policy Coordinator. whitney@acesdv.org. VIII. Grant Sources Updates: a. VRP: Kennesha Jackson reported the following: Agencies are encouraged to utilize all VRP funds awarded to them. However, if vacancy savings for FY2018 is anticipated, agencies should submit a budget modification request form. There is a significant decrease in VRP funding for FY2019 due to a decrease in Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund (CJEF) revenues. Performance Reviews are in the review/approval process and if modifications are needed, grant recipients will be notified. Victims Rights Week is April 8 through April 14, The statewide event is April 9, 2018 beginning at 11:00am at the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium, 522 North 40 th Street, Phoenix. The event is free, but you must register at Please refer to the Victims Rights Training schedule online for a list of dates. The next Basic and Advanced training will be held March 22 and March 23, 2018 in Prescott Valley, AZ. To request training in your area please visit b. ACJC: Larry Grubs reported the following: Victim Assistance Grant applications were due March 16, Thirty-seven applications were received and the total requested amount is $1.5 million; only $750K is available. The Victims Committee will be meeting to review the applications and develop funding recommendations for ACJC to consider at 3

4 their May 1, 2018 meeting. Applicants are welcome to attend the Victims Committee meeting; the Agenda will be sent to applicants a week prior to the meeting. The Victim Compensation and Victim Assistance Rule changes become effective April 9, c. DPS VOCA: Kate Lyon reported the following: The Amendment Request functionality within the grants management system (SAGE) is scheduled for completion March 22, The SAGE User Guide will be updated and ed to grant recipients. The federal system for VOCA grant reporting (OVC-PMT) is still not functioning properly and there is no estimated date of completion. Grant recipients must submit first and second quarter data utilizing the Excel spreadsheets developed by DPS. Xavier Ruiz was introduced as the new Administrative Assistant in the VOCA Unit. Xavier transferred into the Unit February 26, 2018 from the Sex Offender Compliance Unit. Two Administrative Services Officers/Grant Coordinators are tentatively scheduled to begin in the VOCA Unit April 9, It is anticipated that a third will start in June IX. Arizona Victim Assistance Academy (AVAA). Connie Chapman reported the following: The Neurobiology of Trauma Training held February 13-14, 2018 at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix was a huge success. A wide variety of disciplines were represented in the 107 people who attended. Consideration is being given to repeating this training in the future. The Basic Academy being in Flagstaff August 6 10, 2018 filled up in 10 days. There are currently 20 individuals on the waiting list. Those on the waiting list will be the first ones eligible to attend the next Basic Academy. APAAC sponsored training for Victim Advocates in prosecution agencies April 6, 2018 is full. Leadership Training is being planned for June Any ideas for program content should be sent to Connie at acaaacademy@gmail.com. An application was submitted to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for a training grant. Awards will not be announced until mid-may X. Committee Reports: a. Executive Board Report. Debbie Olsen reported the following: The ACVS is still in need of a Treasurer to replace Angela Rose, who can only remain in office until the end of June 2018 due to other commitments. Anyone interested in serving should contact Angela at arose@scottsdaleaz.gov or for more information about the required duties. The Department of Child Safety is creating a victim liaison unit. Consideration is being given to having them present at the May ACVS meeting. 4

5 The proposed edits to the ACVS Operational Guidelines and By-Laws were reviewed/discussed. b. Treasurer s Report: Angela Rose reported the following account balances: ACVS, $14, AVAA, $8, Relocation, $ AVAA account decreased due to payments associated with the two-day Neurobiology of Trauma training held in February VOCA funding of approximately $13,000 is expected soon. The Relocation account is actually in the negative approximately $30 due to the recent approval of a relocation application. c. Membership Committee: Amy Bocks reported that the membership drive will begin soon, as the current membership year ends in June. Agencies/individuals needing an invoice/receipt should contact Amy at amy.bocks@azag.gov or d. Relocation Committee: On behalf of the Relocation Committee and in light of the changes to the ACVS Operational Guidelines approval earlier in the meeting, Angela Rose requested that $50 of all paid agency memberships for the current membership year ($2,000 total) be transferred from the ACVS account into the Relocation Account. Denise Lundin made a Motion to approve. Motion seconded by Beckie Miller. Motion passed unanimously. e. Website Committee: Amy Bocks demonstrated the new calendar function on the ACVS website. If you would like events added to the calendar, they can be submitted on-line at the bottom of the calendar, or you can contact Amy at amy.bocks@azag.gov. Also contact Amy with any job posting you want included on the website. XI. New Business/Open Forum: Carolee Holbrook announced that Beckie Miller will be receiving the Triumph over Tragedy Award Denise Lundin commented on the high quality of the recent Neurobiology of Trauma training. She stated it was amazing and life changing. She hopes that in the future judicial officers will be able to attend such training. Amy Palmisano advised that EMPACT is holding their Take Back the Night event April 6, 2018 from 5:00pm 9:00pm at Phoenix Civic Space Park, 424 North Central Avenue, Phoenix. Gina Winn reported that a Victim Services Peer Review will be held April 26, 2018 from 11:00am 1:00pm at the Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center, West Glendale Avenue, Room 222, Glendale. Justin Harris with DDD will 5

6 present from 11:00am Noon on how first responders and those in the victim services field can better assist and support those with developmental disabilities. A round table discussion will be held from Noon 1:00pm focusing on difficult cases, agency updates, gaps in service, and resource sharing. If interested in attending, contact Gina Winn, gwinn@glendaleas.com or Kimberly Escobedo, kescobedo@avondale.org. Stephanie Smith announced that Latrice Jackson-Anderson, who is a volunteer with the Peoria Police Department, is the recipient of the Three Heart Award, which honors domestic violence survivor who has turned adversity into triumph by creating positive change in the community. The award will be presented by ACESDV at the Thrive Event May 16, Candice Hewitt reminded everyone that Denim Day is April 25, This is designed to raise awareness and support survivors of sexual assault. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and all are encouraged to wear teal on April 3, XII. Next Meeting: May 23, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the Phoenix Family Advocacy Center, 2120 N. Central Avenue, #250, Phoenix, AZ. XIII. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 12:04 p.m. 6